The Well-Being of Children in the UK (Third Edition)

The latest edition of this book brings together material from a wide range of sources as a series of critical discursive reviews authored by experts in the field.

The breadth and extent of both the qualitative and quantitative data included makes it a research-based source best suited for use by students, researchers and policymakers but perhaps less accessible to practitioners and general interest readers.
 
Each chapter critically reviews a separate theme and its potential impact on children’s wellbeing and in doing so identifies drivers that could be used in future decision-making to bring about change. The absence of sufficient critical study relating to the wellbeing of children in the UK, as opposed to more general population studies and the resulting changes of time, is highlighted throughout the book. There is also an awareness of the importance of looking at a broad range of international comparisons.

By virtue of its timing and the historic base of much of the data presented, this book provides an evaluation of the impact on children’s outcomes of the combined policies of the last Labour government. Time, or perhaps edition four of this important series of books, will provide a true comparative study of the impact of the recession and the coalition’s policies.

Reviewed by Angela Davies, project manager, ContinYou Cymru